ALOR GAJAH: A mother and daughter have pleaded not guilty to operating an unlicensed moneylending business and imposing high interest rates.

At the Sessions Court here, P. Devani, 53, claimed trial before judge Nariman Badruddin on Thursday (June 8).

Based on the charge sheet, the accused had allegedly lent a sum of RM4,000 without a moneylender's licence to security guard A. Francis Xavier, 41, and his wife SC Ramia, 26, and charged RM8,950 as interest.

The offence was allegedly committed at a house in Jalan Pengkalan Indah 16, Taman Pengkalan Indah, here between July 2022 and March this year.

The charge against Devani was framed under Section 5(2) of the Moneylenders Act 1951, which carries a fine of between RM250,000 and RM1mil, a jail term of up to five years, or both, upon conviction.

Anis Najwa Nazari prosecuted, while the accused, who works as a cleaner, had earlier appealed to the court to consider her status as a single mother and that she has schoolgoing children to support.

The accused was unrepresented.

The court granted bail of RM8,000 with one surety.

Meanwhile, Devani's daughter M. Thachini, 25, was charged with assisting a moneylender before Magistrate Nurul Bahiyah on the same day.

The charge was framed under Section 29AA of the Moneylenders Act 1951, which carries a maximum penalty of two years' jail and RM20,000 fine, upon conviction.

Insp V. Somsundram prosecuted while the accused was unrepresented.

The accused, who works as a clerk, was granted a bail of RM5,000 with one surety.

Both the courts fixed July 10 as the next mention date.